RAILWAY MISHAP

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 4

RAILWAY MISHAP

Race Traffic Delayed TWO TRAINS COLLIDE Scenes At Wellington Station Some 5001) or 6000 racegoers, with a number of ordinary passengers mingled, jammed the concourse of Wellington railway station on Saturday morning when the departure of race trains wits delayed through a mishap which blocked both north and south railway tracks about half a mile north of Ngaliauranga station. ’The mishap involved one of the trains immediately preceding the first race train on the time schedule, so that the whole of the race traffic was held up at the station.

The mishap involved a passenger train and a goods train. Soon after the goods train, running north, had left Ngaliauranga, a Westinghouse airbrake hose connexion broke, bringing the train to an instant halt with the brakes hard on.

The second train which left Wellington for Upper Hutt at fi.SS’a.ni., rounded a slight bead after passing Ngaliauranga and crashed into the rear of the standing train, which was about, 150 yards into an automatic signal section. The brake van fit the rear of tlie goods train was shattered by the impact, and thrown on its side across botli sets of rails, and two heavilyladen “E”-type wagons immediately in front of it were also smashed, their load of freight being scattered over both tracks. The engine of the passenger train received only minor damage. Tlie guard of the goods train was out of his van attending to the brokfen brake connexion, otherwise the mishap might have had more serious consequences. Passengers in tlie second train escaped with little more than a severe shaking, though one woman was said to have knocked her head and been taken back to town in a

taxi. This incident was not, however, officially reported to railway officials. Immediate steps were taken by railway officers to clear the tracks. The Craven mobile 40-ton erane, which had been removed from the standing break-down train in the Wellington train marshalling yards to assist in handling the heavy goods traffic nt the goods sheds, was reincorporated in the train, and the unit sent to the scene of the mishap, the district engineer. Mr. Smith, and the district traffic manager, Mr. Parkes, having gone ahead by road. By .11.40 a,in., approximately 90 minutes after the collision, the southbound track woe cleared of debris, the brake van having been lifted ; side to the north track by the erane. Traffic both north and south was then restored on the south track. Then little by little, as the congested traffic was got through, the shattered. van and wagons were lifted by the crane and deposited on the concrete protection blocks on the sea side of the concrete retaining wall. By 4.30 p.m. traffic was running on both sets of rails and normal services resumed. Scenes at Kailway Station.

The previous Saturday approximately 9000 passengers were handled on the race trains, and it is estimated that a similar number gathered at the station on Saturday. One or two trains had already filled, and the remaining race passengers soon congregated in a dense crowd in the main concourse.

The road motor service was called upon to provide transport for the ordinary passengers homeward-bound from work to the I’etone and Lower Hutt districts, and hundreds lined tlie roads leading out of the city trying to hitch-hike. Race passengers, however, had to wait for the resumption of the rail service, and though the start of the first race was put back to 1 p.m., the first race train only arrived at the course just before Hie second race started. As barriers opened for trains after tlie service was resumed there was some crushing of passengers at lhe platform gates, and some women fainted. They were speedily assisted by the first-aid members of the railway staff and no serious case occurred. I’nssengers who had been patiently waiting in tlie first two trains were rewarded by getting away on their journey about two hours behind schedule, the 10.35 train pulling out at approximately 12.20. With the added delay ot having to shunt on to the southbound track at Ngaliauranga and back again nt I’etone,. they arrived at the course in time to make their bets on the second race. 'Three of the scheduled race trains were cancelled, as well as n number of the ordinary local trains. Southbound trains from the Hutt Valley and further afield, including rail-car services, suffered considerable delays. Unfortunate Time.

The district traffic manager, Mr. Parkes, said that the mishap could not have come at a worse time. In addition to tlie heavy race traffic, there was the normal Saturday midday service following on its heels. No explanation lias yet been found as to how the passenger train came to enter tlie automatic signal section on which the goods train was standing. When the signals were tested immediately after the collision they were found to lie in perfect order. . , , , Yesterday morning the breakdown gang was again on the scone of tlie accident, loading up the scattered freight from the “E” wagons, which hud been left stacked beside the tracks overnight. Tlie shattered brake van and wagons wore set on fire, so Hint, bolts, nuts, coneeting rods and other metal work, normally not wortli worrying over but so senree nt the present time, enn be easily recovered. 'l’liere was very little damage to tlie track, 't’he rails were loft a little out of alignment, but wore soon straightened by a gang of men with crowbars. Trnllie on the Johnsonville and Main Trunk lines was unafl’ected by the mishap.